Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!

Some laneway houses in Vancouver are required to have an integrated garage, depends on lot size and other rules. These are great places to live and in a city with such ridiculously high land costs it may be the only way for kids to get a house in the same town, by building behind their parents’ place. A smart way to build would be to have the laneway house suitable for older people so the parents could move in there and the kids move into the main house as their family grows. It’s a much nicer alternative than a basement apartment. Wish our area allowed laneway houses.

fitting the washer/dryer into the knee wall of the bathroom so that they fit flush, is sheer genius!!!! Kudos!! Also love the amount of light in the kitchen and that it opens out onto a balcony with a ‘micro garden’. With a kitchen that large, I guess you could put a nice easy chair in it, an a TV on the wall – or did I miss a lounge or sitting room? personally, I don’t need a kitchen that big – but I do love the french doors – having the kitchen on the short wall opposite the stairs, adjacent to the french doors, with a ‘breakfast bar’ would suit me wonderfully – it would cut down on the open width – but let’s face it – there wouldn’t be the need for a table then, a couple of stools would slide underneath the breakfast bar, and the rest could be the ‘lounge’. I’m guessing that there is room inside the bedroom cabinets for a ladder – those top cabinets are very high – storage for seasonal items? There is plenty of storage. Very well thought out – Love that there is use of outdoor space too.
I could definitely live here – especially in a downtown location (small town)

The straight-line kitchen seems to take up space unnecessarily. I’d like to see more of a traditional 3-point design which would open up space for living/dining. The garage is a necessity in snowy areas.

The kitchen window needs to be larger and wider for more access to the roof garden; the bedroom window needs to be bigger; the shower angle is pretty darn steep and how high is it? Would a tall person need to kneel? And the kitchen, whilst nice, leaves a very small area for “living.” Kvetch kvetch kvetch.

A very creative use of space. I would probably prefer a small house to a tiny house, at least in an urban location like this. The best things about this house are the balconies and the storage, especially the closet at the entry. It was also thoughtful to put the bedroom and bathroom on the same level. But the biggest drawback is that the kitchen/living area is on the second floor instead of the first. I wouldn’t want to run upstairs every time I wanted something from the kitchen or lug my groceries up there.

It isn’t entirely clear from the 3D plan views but I think the garage floor is actually a few steps above the adjacent bedroom floor? That would not meet code in NYS and woe b if one stored a leaky propane gas grill in the garage 🙁 I agree with Angela’s (above) comments about “…….too much construction for not enough return. Looks very impractical.” The living space isn’t much wider than a tiny house on a trailer. I like that it isn’t a ‘McMansion’ and I think that houses under 1000 sf will suit more people than 200 sf ‘tiny’ houses. I just don’t think the ‘laneway’ hits the mark.

There are a number of constraints that go into designing a laneway (or “alley” if you prefer) house in an urban location like Vancouver. The city’s regs push us to do things that add cost, or wouldn’t make sense on an open rural lot.

For this one, here’s just a taste of the design constraints:

– Max 19′ high
– ‘Free’ floor area of 220sf for a garage, meaning the garage is always built but sometimes converted to living space. This rule has since been changed as most garages were being converted.
– upper floor max 60% of the lower floor area, and is usually required to be stepped in from the walls below to reduce apparent massing
– Nothing higher than 12′ within the rear 5′ of the building
– Max 26′ into the yard, 4′ side setbacks, 2′ setback to lane, 5′ setback at the entry door
– largest windows / doors face toward the lane (independent of views or solar orientation)
– Max 86sf balcony
– severe restrictions on windows looking toward the side neighbours and rear yard (to reduce overlook complaints from neighbours)
– Fire sprinklering throughout
– separate sewer, stormwater, water and electrical service
– double counting square footage for rooms > 12′ high

I currently live in a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom apt that has a total of 650′. When I first moved to Arizona in 2007, I lived in a 1200′ house with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths plus garage; bought a 1800′ house; sold it, moved into a 2200′ house (both previous houses had 3 bedrooms, lofts, and 2.75 baths and garages). Once my two daughters grew up and moved out/on with their lives, I moved into a 750′, 2 bed/1 bath condo, and then, last year, I moved into this 2 bed, 1 bath, 650′ apt. No garage at the condo or apt.

I’m learning to live small because I live alone and don’t “need” that much space anymore. Eventually, I’ll buy another house, perhaps 2 or 3 bedroom, but it will most likely only have one bathroom, no garage, and be under 800′.

Could I live here? YES. It’s beautiful, clean, and very simple. I like it.

It’s really cute, but does the 800 sf include the garage? I kind of think 800 sf is a lot for 1BR/1BA. Around here, lots of the homes were built in the 20’s, and they are about 700-900 sf with 2 bedrooms.

I live in a 3 bedroom, 860sf house, a comfortable size for 3 or 4 person family. Thats why I’m sure the garage in this has to be included in the total area. The back end of the garage would give workshop/outdoor storage space.
I agree with the too much construction – too little return argument above. The balcony over the laneway isn’t a welcoming view, it would be better placed on the other side of the house sharing a view, if not a garden, with the main house. The garage pushed back through the building would allow a balcony area with steps to access the garden. In the above design the garden at the back cannot be seen from the house and has to be accessed through the side door in the garage.
Setting the roof angle to south-north instead of north-south would probably be necessary for that change.
Putting the kitchen along the short wall with a counter perpendicular as Susan and Nancy suggested would allow for a more flexible living area.
One last point on the entrance. It has a high fence in front of the main door. That is ideal for burglars to work unseen. A fence that stops at 3 or 4 foot would give privacy without impacting security in the city.

The 3D image shows a family with children. I do not see room for children in this design. One must be young or agile to navigate stairs and clean such high looking windows. One will get plenty of exercise here.
I do like the washer/dryer area and the roof top garden idea with easy access from the upper level. Would like a safety fence to avoid falling off the roof (garden). 3D image shows a wall but photo does not show walls on any side other than front balcony. Were all those ‘walls’ glass for the garden?

800 sq ft is a small home, not tiny. I’ve lived in 16×9 space for 9 years now. I wouldn’t know what to do with all that space!! lol. Then again, in my prior life I had a 4500 sq ft home with a 3 car garage, an acre of landscaped yard. We also had a 2500 sq ft. vacation home. Honestly, you couldn’t drag me back to a home that large! ever! There’s beauty in simplicity and in living tiny.

As soon as I saw that this house was a small split level, I stopped seriously considering it. I am hoping to have a 500-600 sq feet of livable space that is wheelchair friendly. I also need significant pantry space because I store my own home-canned foods due, in part, to food allergies.

You’d probably fall in love with Nils Pearson’s house design which was designed specifically for a husband who was wheelchair bound. A bit larger than what you say you want but that could be easily remedied.

Yes, I’m very interested in this type of space. I’ve been watching Tiny House Nation and reading the Tiny House Talk newsletter in preparation, and once my 2 years is up at my present 1868 sq. ft. house (so no capital gains penalty), I’m selling and want to live more simply AND debt free, so the 500-900 sq. ft. house is on my radar.

Great plan VJ! 500-900 sq. ft. is a great size for the long-term for most people like us. I like the idea of a ~700 sq. ft. cabin myself. Or 400 sq. ft. with a separate structure as my studio office. Thanks for sharing :))

I like the size, but the layout seems backwards to me. I would have the living area and kitchen downstairs and the bedroom and bathroom upstairs. Maybe I’m too traditional in my thinking. Plus, I don’t think it needs a full-size washer dryer. I would save space with a stackable or all-in-one and use the space for something else. I do love the garage.

Thanks for sharing. I’m tweaking our small house plans and hoping to get something in the works next year. I love some of the other Lane houses better.

Top marks for placing the living area upstairs where they benefit from sunlight, views and ventilation. What a lovely idea to incorporate garden beds into the design!. Most households have a car and this is unlikely ever to change. Incorporating a garage into small home design broadens their appeal immeasurably .

I love the ‘kitchen garden’ so accessable. I personally would not feel safe to invest it this for the stairs and my age near 70, but maybe the stairs would help my legs stay young longer! I really like how the house and fenced yard make total use of the property. The house is airy, bright even when a few curtains are installed for privacy. I really like it. Thanks for posting.

Yes i liked this home and size. The tiny homes are right for some people but they feel too squished and confined for me, i need open space and flow.
Remember– you do not have to have a lot of “stuff”, just an open floor plan and space so you feel you are not in a “sardine can” where so much is packed into so little a home.
I just went to the largest RV show in the US in hershey, Pa., it was loads of fun to see and get in hundreds of RV’s from the size of a small van to a greyhound bus (with 2 bathrooms). Went with a friend who considers building a tiny home, now has the option of an RV. Note: there are tons of used rv’s for sale if someone does not want to build their own home, and they can be reconditioned….r

The garage shelters your (most likely) second largest investment and one that loses value quicker than your house.

I find it some what staggering to think that our two 10 year old Honda CRV’s together cost HALF (used!!!) what this house cost.

Of course we bought the house a while ago but not back in the 1800’s either!

We don’t have a garage or car port and in Upstate NY this is a huge problem. Shoveling out at 5 AM is a beeeatch. And getting back UP the driveway–which doesn’t LOOK steep!—can also be a huge challenge. Make good friends with your Plow Guy!

I have said for a long time that my “Dream Garage” would be CONNECTED TO THE HOUSE and have TWO sets of remote opening doors; one in FRONT and one in the REAR–so you could just drive THRU the garage. None of that silly “Backing up” for moi!

Some places however won’t allow you to park a car in the driveway or the street so you might have to be stealthy in using the garage as living space—use of convertible furniture that can fold out of the way and look like something else might be a good idea.

I do like this but that loooong stretch of kitchen–not so much. The closet in the bedroom–I LOVE that!

As a single person, I was seriously on my way to a tiny home on wheels. Then I fell in love and got married and a tiny home on wheels is too small for both of us to live *and* indulge our passions. I like to have a lot of arts and crafts supplies out: paint, yarn, ink, papers, fabric, etc… And he likes to woodwork . So we are compromising and downsizing from a 3000 square-foot home to a 1000 or less square-foot home with an enclosed outdoor workshop . And I know I want at least a carport, so I like this look with the garage included. But a carport would be sufficient for me. I do like the outdoor gardening farm on the kitchen level. Also, like others commented, as I age, I need to be on one level. My guests can go upstairs LOL. The modern look is not for everyone. I remember when I considered it ugly, but it grows on me and I like the look now. What I don’t like is that sometimes it is jarring in visual appearance against its neighbors, depending on where it is situated .

Jessica, My house is 825 sq. ft. I has 2 bedrooms (or one bedroom and one office/crafts room), one bath, full kitchen, etc. It was built in 1948 and has coved ceiling, hardwood floors, and a (not attached) oversized 1 car garage. If one is looking for a small home that is quality built, consider those older homes. Another advantage – the neighborhood is all grown up so trees, trees, trees.

Looks like a maintenance nightmare to me with a flat roof and so much exterior wood. Living small shouldn’t mean having to accept substandard. Honestly, you couldn’t give this one to me, unless it was sitting on 40 acres. The first thing I would do is salvage pieces I felt were usable and level it so something more functional would be built in its place.

Russ Evans has a great idea to modify the design. Bury the first floor to be like a basement bedroom bathroom, then you would not have to carry groceries up stairs. Plus if you have family member or firend or stranger who lives on a huge lot or acrage and are willing to sell you a o.25 chunk off it the corner it would work well.

Love everything about this, but age makes me leery of signing up for anything with stairs. Trying to visualize keeping garage but having living space downstairs too. This would fit on a couple of lots I’ve been coveting but might wind up costing as much as what I’m in. Would really like to see more projected cost info and possible customization options.

Alex, you might want to change the title to more accurately describe the house. Garages aren’t usually included in the square footage of a home, so this one is really more like 550? Oh, and if I lived in a city, I’d like something like this. Minor tweaks, but could really see this as do-able.

Like this one alot.I too would want a little larger window as I love maximum sunlight. Really like the yard and roof top garden. Some place to hang clothes a definite asset. I like lots of features in this one. Thanks for sharing

I wish more of the small houses would have 2 bedrooms! Not all people that want to downsize are singles or couples! Our boys have always shared a bedroom, but, we do need that extra bedroom that can fit at least 2 twin beds (one would be a bunk bed) for our three boys.

I live in a subdivision which requires minimum 600 sf, so can’t do a tiny house. This is more my speed except the high cost.
I have lived in a sailboat, and an RV, so I’m a tiny house type.
I hope you will continue to have some small homes on the site.

Lovely, but I agree that there is too much kitchen. An L shaped kitchen would open up more space for a living area. Love the closets and the full size washer & dryer. I’ve lived in an apt. that had a small washing machine that only fit a couple of towels and one day’s worth of clothes. I was doing laundry constantly.

I would love a house this size. A tiny home is a bit claustrophobic for me but this very doable.
I don’t care for the floor plan, maybe if it were reversed (living/kitchen on level 1) it would be perfect.

I’m not entirely sure why all the comments about the balcony. Did I miss something? I didn’t see any pics of the views, so why people are assuming it’s a bad one, I’m not sure.

However, I really love the design. The kitchen (often the heart of a home) is big enough to entertain. There’s plenty of room to adjust to a three-point, if you want to make a space for a distinct living area.

I don’t mind the kitchen being on the second floor except for lugging up groceries from the garage. But, if that’s a real issue, an old-fashioned dumbwaiter could be installed, right?

I really like the mix of contemporary, industrial materials with wood. And adding in the little garden is a wonderful idea. Overall, there is a lot one could do to put their stamp on it. I could definitely see myself living there.

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